Procurement Risk & Assurance Manager

1st Executive Ltd; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus up to 10%

Excellent benefits

Flexible hybrid working

Job summary

1st Executive Ltd. is seeking an experienced Procurement Risk & Assurance Manager to lead independent assurance across high-value procurement programmes. You will review strategies, provide objective recommendations and ensure governance, regulatory compliance and value for money.

The role offers hybrid working with a salary in the £55,000–£67,000 range, plus a bonus up to 10% and excellent benefits. You will engage with senior stakeholders and contribute to continuous improvement of assurance

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing complex procurement activities and sourcing programmes.
• Strong understanding of procurement governance, risk management and regulatory compliance.
• Experience leading or supporting high-value procurement projects (£5m+).
• MCIPS qualification or equivalent procurement accreditation.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent assurance reviews across the end-to-end procurement lifecycle, including category strategies and supplier management outputs.
• Review and challenge procurement documentation, strategies and award recommendations for governance compliance.
• Provide written and verbal assurance feedback to procurement teams and key stakeholders.
• Assess procurement activity against financial, contractual, regulatory, commercial and reputational risk considerations.
• Support the delivery of a risk-based assurance framework across Commercial & Procurement activities.
• Coordinate assurance activities involving specialist Subject Matter Experts where required.
• Undertake compliance reviews and audits, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Promote best practice across procurement and supplier management activities.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Influencing skills

Written and verbal communication

Governance

Education

MCIPS qualification or equivalent procurement accreditation

Job description

Location

£55,000 - £67,000 + Bonus (up to 10%) + Excellent Benefits

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced procurement professional to join our Procurement Risk & Assurance team as a Procurement Risk & Assurance Manager (PRAM).

This role sits at the heart of procurement governance, providing independent assurance and constructive challenge across a portfolio of high-value, high-risk procurement and supplier management activities. Working alongside Category, Sourcing and Supplier Management teams, you will review procurement strategies, commercial recommendations and contract decisions to ensure they align with governance requirements, best practice and regulatory obligations.

You will play a critical role in helping the organisation deliver value for money, manage commercial risk effectively and maintain robust procurement controls across some of the UK's largest and most complex procurement programmes.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced procurement practitioner who enjoys stakeholder engagement, governance and strategic review work rather than hands-on tender delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct independent assurance reviews across the end-to-end procurement lifecycle, including category strategies, sourcing activities and supplier management outputs.
• Review and challenge procurement documentation, strategies and award recommendations to ensure compliance with governance requirements and commercial best practice.
• Provide written and verbal assurance feedback to procurement teams and key stakeholders.
• Assess procurement activity against financial, contractual, regulatory, commercial and reputational risk considerations.
• Support the delivery of a risk-based assurance framework across Commercial & Procurement activities.
• Work with Category, Sourcing and Supplier Management teams to improve procurement outcomes and controls.
• Facilitate assurance reviews within agreed timescales to enable procurement activity to progress efficiently.
• Coordinate and support assurance activities involving specialist Subject Matter Experts where required.
• Undertake compliance reviews and audits, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Promote best practice across procurement and supplier management activities.
• Support commercial risk management and governance awareness through coaching, guidance and stakeholder engagement.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of assurance processes, frameworks and methodologies.

About You

We're looking for a commercially astute procurement professional with strong stakeholder skills and a passion for governance, compliance and continuous improvement.

You will have:

• Significant experience managing complex procurement activities and sourcing programmes.
• Strong understanding of procurement governance, risk management and regulatory compliance.
• Experience leading or supporting high-value procurement projects (£5m+).
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• The ability to challenge constructively and provide objective, evidence-based recommendations.
• Experience presenting recommendations and findings to governance boards or senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of procurement best practice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A resilient and confident approach when dealing with competing priorities and challenging conversations.
• Experience within procurement governance, assurance, compliance or audit functions.
• Public sector, utilities, infrastructure or regulated industry procurement experience.
• Knowledge of supplier management and contract management principles.
• Experience conducting peer reviews, compliance assessments or commercial assurance activities.
• MCIPS qualification or equivalent procurement accreditation.

Why Join?

• Work on large-scale, strategically important procurement programmes worth millions and, in some cases, billions of pounds.
• Exposure to senior stakeholders across a complex national organisation.
• Clear career progression opportunities within Procurement Risk & Assurance.
• Structured and highly collaborative team environment.
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements.
• Annual bonus of up to 10%.
• Excellent pension scheme and wider benefits package.
• Discounted rail travel and additional employee benefits.